Louise Avidon
In January 2004 I joined the Mercury Masters for women
50+. When it was time for pre-marathon training, I opted out of the Thursday
night coaching sessions. My reasoning was that, since I’m a morning runner and
accustomed to running alone, how could I manage this extra workout? Well,
not only did I train alone, but I experienced the whole marathon alone, from
start to DNF (did not finish).
The start time is 10:10; I crossed the start line at
10:34. According to your estimated finish time, you are told where to wait in
line. However, the real reason for my late start is that I was in the
porta-potty. After having waited half an hour for this opportunity, I was not
about to pass it up. So, imagine me flying out of the porta-potty to catch up
with 37,000 runners already heading for the start.
Well, from the start I was totally stressed out. I had
told my family when to expect me at Mile 18.5, but I had started nearly 20
minutes late, the weather was warm and my right big toe was starting to swell.
I compensated for the late start by increasing my speed. That first, uphill
mile on the
2005: I train with my team. I even put in one respectable
twenty-mile training run, run the last 10 miles on another training run, and do
it again with my teammates. I’m ready!
And this year I’m doing the
Sunday: Rather than take (a really early) marathon bus to
the start, I arrange to have a
The ride to the start in
piece of the finish line”, he says, which I can stroke
for magical effect whenever I am tempted to ask myself what the hell I’m doing
out there.
I still can’t find my teammates, but muscle my way up to
the front of the crowd that is lining up. I finally spot some teammates, give a
hoot, and we cross the start line at 10:11. I have already decided to
conquer that first, steep uphill mile by walking big chunks of it. The weather
is warm and humid, but marathon training teaches you, if nothing else, not to
complain. Thousands of runners are now on the bridge and it starts to sway. I
get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Soon the swaying stops and I
break into my 4:1 run/walk pace. I remind myself of my first two goals: one, to
reach mile 14 without being tired (to save my energy for later), and two, to
run my slowest half-marathon ever and enjoy every minute of it.
And enjoy it I do. David duct-taped onto my singlet “I’m
a LULU.” Well, for 26.2 miles people are calling out “Go, Lulu”. When I
walk, and they say “Pick it up, Lulu” I just smile and say, “I do it my way”.
Now, you know how all the kids have their hands
outstretched hoping to be touched by a marathoner? I stop only once, and am
rewarded by having the sweetest little girl say, “Thank you, Lulu”.
At approximately Mile 7.5 in
I am still on course although behind schedule (but who
cares? I only want to finish.) coming over the
I’m off again, but at Mile 19 (my wall?) I’m feeling
really tired. Doing lots more walking, and stretching on the
I’m ready to walk the rest of the way, which is actually
in my game plan, but then I get the idea to run every other minute. I have
totally forgotten the plan I had to run each of the last ten miles for each of
my children and grandchildren, memorized in alphabetical order. (Fortunately
there are exactly 10 of them.)* The next few miles pass by comfortably in this
manner, and there are still spectators calling my name and plenty of other
runners/walkers on the course. David S., Naomi, and Sam spontaneously and
totally unexpectedly jump in at Mile 23 and run the next uphill mile with me!
This “every other minute” thing suits all of just fine. My coach spots us and
yells my name. Then we enter
We approach Mile 26.2 . . . David veers off to the side; I
cross the finish line in 6 hrs. 34 minutes, smiling, with my arms raised for
the finish-line photo. I forget that I have finished, and keep on running!
Now comes the real, and unexpected part of the marathon .
. . about a one mile walk through and out of Central Park while your chip gets
cut off your shoe, you are wrapped in a heat blanket, given water, Gatorade and
inedible white-bread bagels and protein bars which you MUST eat during this
golden window of opportunity to absorb the most nutrients possible.
And then, if you can believe it, David, Naomi, Sam and I
go to a post-marathon party hosted by Pat and her husband. Pat is not the least
bit fazed by having just run a marathon (her tenth and last) and looks fresh as
a daisy directing everyone to sandwiches, pizza, wine and beer. Naomi and Sam
had already gone to MacDonald’s (somewhere between our first and second meeting
areas), but Sam still downed a slice of pizza. He evidently worked up an
appetite running the marathon with Grandma.
Soon I’m ready to leave, but must stay for the group
photos and the champagne toasts. David is among the toasters (?) and says how
inspired he is by the Mercury Masters.
Me, too. I couldn’a done it without
‘em.
Oh, and did I mention the medal?
*Credits (if
not during the last ten miles) to all the children and grandchildren: Andy,
Benny, Daniel,